Tennis-racket.



F. J. BANCHOFT.

TENNIS RACKET.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1. m5.

Patemgfiiybct. 12, 1915.

W w A p 75 f B 1 7 W 7 4 /1\ QM A d a X .f I.

M w/ 5. F 5 7d Aiiarn a "to attain these objects in a structure which "form a part of this specification,

EEItEDERICK ET. BANUROFT, 0E KAWTUGKET, EHGBE {specification of Letters Eateut.

yss

Patented first. t'i, lint/5i.

Application filed duly I, 1915'. Serial 1%. 38,4:15.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, FRE ERICK J. Barr mu a citizen of the United States, re-' siding at Pawtuclret, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tennis-Rackets, of which the "following is a specification.

My invention relates to rackets, hats, and similar game implements.

The essential objects of my invention is to prolong the life of this type of implement the breakage of which is now usually due to excessive vibration; to insure at the same time such an elasticity or resiliency of the frame as to furnish a spring or kick; to increase the strength of the structure and is properly balanced, symmetrical, light and inexpensive.

To the above endsesse'ntiall'y my inyen tion consists in such parts and combinations of parts as fall within the scope of the ap pended claims. v

the accompanying drawings which Figures 1 and 2 are front and side elevations respectively of a tennis racket embodying my invention, and Figs. 3 and 4, sections on lines 33-45 and of Fig. 1 respectively.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

My racket comprises a bow A, a net B, and handle The constituent outer and inner wooden strips d and c of the bow, which converge downwardly in the usual manner to form the handle, have interposed between them a strip of raw hide f extend.- ing' throughout the extent of the bow and extending some distance into the handle. The strip is engaged by lueand attached by the catgut or filling B to the adjacent strips. The layer or filling f is tough and unbreakable, and stronger than iron, particularly in a structure like the present wherein it is subjected to vibration; I have found that raw hide will resist successfully the effects of a vibration sufficient to crystallize metal rivets. The strip f, however, being comparatively thin permits an action of the parts necessary to afford a resilient effect upon a hall, and strength to the structure.

The throat piece or crotch 7 is preferably of wood and is located between the adjacent to the head of the bow.

lends a maximum of portions of the strip a. in thepresent instance a reinforcing strip oii'raw hide h 92(- tends across the throat piece.

A. maximum of strain ccurs at and adjacent the lower portion of the how, and it has been. found that improved results are also attained by applying thin strips l: of raw hide to the exterior of the strip 05 and immediately above the throat or? the frame. better when the strips 1 have not extended The last mentioned strips are retained by glue and the cat-gut If desired rivets 5 may he employeclto assist in binding the how and throat piece in the usual manner.

The strips ,v and l are preferably of a width equal. to the thickness of the how. The strip it of raw hide adds to the strength of the structure.

I claim:

1. A. tennis racket formed of continuous strips of wood, combined with a strip of raw hide incorporated in the bow throughout its length. I

2. A. tennis racket comprising a plurality of how strips of wood, a strip of raw hide interposed between the strips, and means for uniting all thestrips.

, A tennis'raclret comprising plurality of bow strips, a strip of raw hide interposed hetweenthe other strips throughout their length, and a net uniting all the strips.

4:. A tennis racket comprising how strips of. wood, a strip of raw hide interposed between the first mentioned strips throughout their length, a throat piece, andv a reinforcing strip of raw hide on the throat piece.

A tennis racket comprising a how, a throat piece in the how, a handle. and reinforcing! strips of raw hide upon the exterior only of the how adjacent the throat piece.

6. A tennis racket comprising a how. a strip of raw hide incorporated in the how throughout its length, a handle supporting the how, and strips of raw hide on the ex terior only of the lower por ions of the how at each side of the handle. I In testimony whereof I have attired my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK J. BANCROFT.

Witnesses Tnoaras F. Vance, THOMAS F. Vance, Jr.

Results in balance have been. found 

